Iran's Newest Cruise Missile

23 Aug 2011By John Reed

So, Tehran is showing off yet another cruise missile (as it seems to do every few months). This latest weapon, dubbed the Ghader, is apparently designed to destroy warships sailing up to 124 miles off the nation's coastline.

Now if the missile actually works, it will be able to take out targets anywhere in the Persian Gulf or Gulf of Oman. However, while Tehran's got a bunch of cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, it will be interesting to see if the Iranian's have mastered the guidance and targeting systems needed to strike a moving target. Iran frequently unveils new tech that are nothing more that parade pieces. Furthermore, all the U.S. needs to do is park its ships beyond the reach this and Tehran's other new "carrier killer" missile with a 185-mile range. I mean, Tomahawks and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets launched from 400 to 1,000 miles offshore could easily strike Iran's missile batteries if the Iranian military ever tried to close down the Persian Gulf. So while the missiles pose a limited threat to the region, they could be put out of action by the U.S. Navy (or Air Force for that matter). Sorry Iran, you haven't yet mastered area denial in the same way that China is.

Still, check out this interesting post over at DoDBuzz that lists what might actually be a bigger area denial threat to U.S. ships in the Gulf, albeit less glamorous one, than cruise missiles; Iranian sea mines.

From the AP:

Iran's president claimed on Tuesday the country's military can cripple enemies on their own ground as Tehran put a new Iranian-made cruise missile on display, the latest addition to the nation's growing arsenal.

The state TV reported that the new missile, showcased at a ceremony in Tehran, is designed for sea-based targets, with a range of 124 miles (200 kilometers) and is capable of destroying a warship. The TV said it can travel at low altitudes and has a lighter weight and smaller dimensions.

"The best deterrence is that the enemy does not dare to invade," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during the ceremony. As he spoke, the TV showed footage of the weapon, dubbed "Ghader," or "Capable" in Farsi.